Undergraduate Course Catalog 2009-2010

The Chemistry program prepares students for professional work, graduate work or teaching in chemistry, biochemistry, materials science and environmental science. In view of the diversity of goals students bring to the study of chemistry or biochemistry, the department offers both the bachelor of arts and the bachelor of science degrees. The B.A. degree is recommended primarily for students who plan to enter fields related to chemistry or biochemistry, for which additional graduate work is not required. Students should realize that additional coursework may be needed to prepare them adequately to achieve their goals. The B.S. degree is recommended for students who intend to pursue graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry.

A chemistry or biochemistry major can also be used for preparation for medical school, dental school, veterinary medicine school or any of the other professional health sciences. A career at a forensic laboratory is also available to qualified students upon graduation.

With the growing popularity of forensic science, students are entering the field of forensic investigation. Specifically, interest in the role of the scientific laboratory in forensic investigation has attracted students who want to achieve competence in forensic science. The concentration in laboratory forensic science requires students to become well grounded in the fields of chemistry or biochemistry. The Chemistry Department's forensic chemistry concentration is directed toward preparing students for careers in the science laboratory, not at the crime scene.

The forensic chemistry concentration consists of 62-63 credit hours of core courses, 10 credit hours in one physics sequence, and 8 credit hours in Advanced Forensic Chemistry I and other courses such as Biochemistry, Research, Internship, Special Topics or Independent Study. A total of 80-81 credit hours will be required for the chemistry major with the forensic concentration. This concentration will give students a competent foundation and prepare them for graduate study in the fields of forensic science, chemistry, and/or biochemistry.

The Chemistry Department also co-sponsors with the Biology Department a B.S. degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in chemistry.

All majors in programs sponsored by the Chemistry Department must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 as well as a GPA of 2.75 in Chemistry or be dropped from the department. All transfer students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 as well as a minimum GPA of 2.75 in Chemistry. All students, whether majors in programs sponsored by the Chemistry Department or majors outside the department, may take a Chemistry class only twice at Lewis University. If a student has not achieved a minimum of a C after the second attempt, the student may not repeat the class at Lewis University.